A terminal illness is any condition expected to end in death. Examples include some cancers, advanced
heart disease and organ failure. Treatments aim to improve your comfort rather than cure the disease.
Learning how to cope with your condition can help improve your quality of life.
How to cope with terminal illness
Your feelings
As time passes, you may experience a range of emotions. Its normal to feel some or all of the following:
shock, fear, anger, resentment, denial, helplessness, sadness, frustration, relief and acceptance. You may
also feel isolated and alone, even if you have family and friends around you. You might not experience
all of these feelings and, if you do, they’ll not necessarily come in any particular order. Whatever you
feel, you do not have to go through it alone.
Getting your diagnosis
Hearing that your illness cannot be cured can be a frightening experience. Many people will be unable to
take everything in. If you’re alone in the consultation, ask if you can bring a relative or friend in to hear
everything the doctor has to say. You may need to ask for a follow-up appointment so that someone can
be with you. Ask the doctor what support is available to you. They may refer you for additional specialist
palliative care alongside the care you’re already receiving.
Find someone to talk to
Not everyone wants to talk about what they’re going through. However, a terminal (sometimes called
life-limiting) diagnosis can bring up worries and fears, and it can help to talk about these so they do not
start to feel impossible to deal with. Family, friends and health professionals You might want to talk to
your partner, family, or friends, or to a doctor, nurse, counsellor, or religious minister.
Questions and worries about your future
Knowing that you have a life-limiting condition leaves you living with uncertainty. You’ll probably have
questions with no definite answers, such as: how and when your body is going to change the effect this
will have on your independence and relationships. what will happen at work, exactly how much time
you have left, Not knowing exactly what’s going to happen to you can feel overwhelming and upsetting.
It’s normal to feel like this, and it might be helpful to talk with others who are in a similar situation, and
hear how they cope with these feelings.
Living with dying, One step at a time
What you’re dealing with can feel overwhelming, but you may be able to make it feel less so by thinking
about it as smaller pieces. Take one day at a time, or one week at a time. Decide on some small,
achievable goals, so that you gain confidence – for example putting family photos into an album, or
visiting a friend. You can still think about bigger issues, such as where you would like to receive your
care in the future, but try not to feel that you have to tackle everything at once.
Takeaway for you, terminal diagnosis changes your life in an instant. It’s hard to think about saying
goodbye to your loved ones and letting go of your plans for the future. Some days will be better than
others. Rest when you need it and be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you develop newsymptoms. Between diagnosis and death, there is life. Live out your days the way you choose and with
the people you love.